Jo Cox’s sister warns of UK’s ‘divisive rhetoric and dangerous language’ ten years after MP’s murder
The sister of murdered MP Jo Cox has said she is “deeply concerned” by the current divisions in British society, a decade after the murder, but will not shy away from the challenge of uniting people.
Kim Leadbeater has called the 10th anniversary of her “wonderful” sister’s murder by a neo-Nazi in 2016 a “moment in time” that particularly encourages political leaders “not to push people to extremes.”
He said it was crucial to “push back on divisive rhetoric and dangerous language” but avoided naming names, saying he did not want to “give oxygen to bad behavior.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recently faced widespread criticism for saying the public should feel “pure, cold anger” about the case of student Henry Nowak.
Earlier this month, violent protests broke out in Southampton, where the 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in December 2025, over outcry over police treatment. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack, and Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police who ignored his dying pleas that he could not breathe.
Last week, Elon Musk came under criticism for the role of social media in the violence in Belfast, where houses were set on fire and people were targeted based on their race.
The owner of Billionaire Mr. Musk hit back at accusations that he had inflamed tensions and blamed immigration policy.
In an interview with Press Association, Ms Leadbeater said it was “absolutely okay to be angry about everything”, from concerns about immigration to the cost of living and housing, but she said she did not want to fuel division.
He said: “You have to decide whether you want to take the discussion forward and work on solutions. And unfortunately, not everyone seems to be doing that at the moment.”
“They seem to be yelling and not listening. And what that yelling does is it further fuels that divide. And it only takes one person who can’t draw the line between anger and violent language and then acts of violence. And I find that deeply disturbing.”
“And I worry about where we’re going as a society if this continues. So the 10-year anniversary of Jo’s murder is an opportune moment to say to everyone, whatever your political views, whatever your ideologies, let’s keep them in a safe, sensible space and let’s not push people to extremes because there’s no gain in that.”
Ms Cox, who was shot and stabbed by neo-Nazi Thomas Mair in the Batley and Spen constituency on June 16, 2016, days before the EU referendum, famously spoke out against division in her maiden speech to Parliament a year ago.
“We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than the things that divide us,” he told the House of Commons.
Ms. Leadbeater remembered her sister as someone “full of kindness, full of compassion, but also full of determination to make a difference and get things done.”
He told the PA: “While he looked at some of the challenges we face as a country, as I do at the moment, and was deeply concerned, he would not stop working hard to meet those challenges and look at how we can bring people together.
“It’s also about telling the true story of our country, because division, anger and, unfortunately, violence do not represent who we truly are as a country. Jo knew that, and I know that too.”
Leadbeater said there was a “difficult and delicate balance” between calling people out and not increasing tensions, adding that he tried “not to personalize politics” because doing so could give “oxygen to bad behaviour”.
He said: “It’s a difficult and delicate balance and I’m struggling with it, probably more than ever this year. But we need to push back on divisive rhetoric and dangerous language. And I think the best way to do that is to actually show a different way.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Ms Cox was now remembered with a “renewed determination to carry forward the values for which she lived”.
He added: “At a time when these values are being tested, his legacy seems as vital and urgent as ever. The best way to honor his memory is to stand firm against hate and division, to bring communities together and to demonstrate, through actions both large and small, the compassion, kindness and solidarity that best define our nation.”
“Jo’s legacy lives on in the communities he inspired, the people he brought to public life and the countless acts of kindness performed in his name. We will continue to carry his spirit with us in our work, our politics and our determination to build a more united and hopeful Britain.”
Ms Leadbeater said she had “so many happy memories” with her sister and would spend Tuesday with her family as “a lovely, calm, quiet day to think about Jo”.
He said Ms Cox’s family had tried to “bring people together to create a really positive, strong legacy for her” in the years since her death and urged people to attend the annual Grand Gathering this weekend, her birthday.
Ms Leadbeater said: “It’s really simple things – hold an event in your community, check on your neighbours, make sure no one is alone.
“It could be a picnic, it could be a tea party, it could be a musical event. We’re doing the run for Jo in Yorkshire, we’re getting people running in the woods – and it’s not really about the running, it’s about the human connection, it’s about the fun you can create.”
“This is what our country looks like. I encourage everyone to join in and celebrate all the good things going on there.”
